Lukan Theology in the Light of the Gospel's Literary Structure
Numerous scholars have noted various elements of literary structure in the Gospel of Luke, many of them patterned, such as chiasm. Several of these scholars have rigorously explored the significance of such structure. A common conclusion is that if Luke is consistent with other ancient writers, then the observation of some elements of patterned structure, e.g., what has already been discovered in the Gospel, suggests that there is probably considerably more. This book offers a comprehensive literary structure for the Gospel of Luke, thoroughly and critically evaluates it, and ultimately focuses on theology that may be derived from this structure. As groundwork, the Introduction provides rigorous tests for assessing the intentionality behind proposals of parallelism. The first chapter then employs the tests in an evaluation of Robert C. Tannehill's work on Luke-Acts, which is representative of studies on correspondences that are not strictly structural in nature. His contribution enables us to grasp how Luke encourages the reader to read passages in the light of other passages within the Gospel and, accordingly, provides an interpretive aid for our study. The second chapter applies the tests to the Lukan correspondences suggested by Charles H. Talbert, which are inherently structural. His analysis of Luke-Acts and other Greco-Roman literature provides a strong theoretical foundation for our own proposal. Chapter three surveys OT, Greco-Roman, and NT texts that bear a similar patterned structure to what we discover in Luke. The structure of Luke is presented and carefully evaluated in chapter four, and the theological implications of that structure are developed in chapter five, shedding much fresh light on Lukan theology.
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Lukan Theology in the Light of the Gospel's Literary Structure
Numerous scholars have noted various elements of literary structure in the Gospel of Luke, many of them patterned, such as chiasm. Several of these scholars have rigorously explored the significance of such structure. A common conclusion is that if Luke is consistent with other ancient writers, then the observation of some elements of patterned structure, e.g., what has already been discovered in the Gospel, suggests that there is probably considerably more. This book offers a comprehensive literary structure for the Gospel of Luke, thoroughly and critically evaluates it, and ultimately focuses on theology that may be derived from this structure. As groundwork, the Introduction provides rigorous tests for assessing the intentionality behind proposals of parallelism. The first chapter then employs the tests in an evaluation of Robert C. Tannehill's work on Luke-Acts, which is representative of studies on correspondences that are not strictly structural in nature. His contribution enables us to grasp how Luke encourages the reader to read passages in the light of other passages within the Gospel and, accordingly, provides an interpretive aid for our study. The second chapter applies the tests to the Lukan correspondences suggested by Charles H. Talbert, which are inherently structural. His analysis of Luke-Acts and other Greco-Roman literature provides a strong theoretical foundation for our own proposal. Chapter three surveys OT, Greco-Roman, and NT texts that bear a similar patterned structure to what we discover in Luke. The structure of Luke is presented and carefully evaluated in chapter four, and the theological implications of that structure are developed in chapter five, shedding much fresh light on Lukan theology.
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Lukan Theology in the Light of the Gospel's Literary Structure

Lukan Theology in the Light of the Gospel's Literary Structure

by Douglas S McComiskey
Lukan Theology in the Light of the Gospel's Literary Structure

Lukan Theology in the Light of the Gospel's Literary Structure

by Douglas S McComiskey

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Overview

Numerous scholars have noted various elements of literary structure in the Gospel of Luke, many of them patterned, such as chiasm. Several of these scholars have rigorously explored the significance of such structure. A common conclusion is that if Luke is consistent with other ancient writers, then the observation of some elements of patterned structure, e.g., what has already been discovered in the Gospel, suggests that there is probably considerably more. This book offers a comprehensive literary structure for the Gospel of Luke, thoroughly and critically evaluates it, and ultimately focuses on theology that may be derived from this structure. As groundwork, the Introduction provides rigorous tests for assessing the intentionality behind proposals of parallelism. The first chapter then employs the tests in an evaluation of Robert C. Tannehill's work on Luke-Acts, which is representative of studies on correspondences that are not strictly structural in nature. His contribution enables us to grasp how Luke encourages the reader to read passages in the light of other passages within the Gospel and, accordingly, provides an interpretive aid for our study. The second chapter applies the tests to the Lukan correspondences suggested by Charles H. Talbert, which are inherently structural. His analysis of Luke-Acts and other Greco-Roman literature provides a strong theoretical foundation for our own proposal. Chapter three surveys OT, Greco-Roman, and NT texts that bear a similar patterned structure to what we discover in Luke. The structure of Luke is presented and carefully evaluated in chapter four, and the theological implications of that structure are developed in chapter five, shedding much fresh light on Lukan theology.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781597527866
Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date: 01/01/2007
Series: Paternoster Biblical Monographs
Pages: 422
Product dimensions: 6.34(w) x 8.95(h) x 0.91(d)

About the Author

Douglas McComiskey studied at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois, and then served as a Baptist pastor in Western Australia. Subsequently he studied under the supervision of Professor I. Howard Marshall at the University of Aberdeen. After teaching at North American Baptist Seminary he took up his present position as Professor of New Testament at Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia.

Table of Contents


Preface     xv
Introduction     1
Lukan Correspondences and Structure: Previous Work and a New Contribution     1
The Analysis of Structure in Narrative     6
Eleven Tests for Intentionality     8
General Presentarion of the Tests     12
Validation of the Tests: Luke 1:5-38 as a Test Case for the Tests for Intentionality     14
A New Proposal for the Structure of Luke     27
The Need for this Study     31
Lukan Correspondences from the Literary Perspective   Robert C. Tannehill     33
Previews, Reviews, Echoes, Parallels, and Type-scene in Luke: Theory and Evaluation of Selected Examples     37
Preview and Review     37
Echo and Parallel     44
Type-scene     55
Correspondences between Luke and Acts     58
Preview and Review     60
Preview of Acts in Luke     60
Review of Luke in Acts     67
Echo and Parallel     72
Lukan Correspondences Observed   Charles H. Talbert     76
Talbert's Theoretical Basis for the Existence of Architectonic Patterns     78
Interplay between Art and Literature     79
Literary Precedent     79
TheNature of Talbert 's Architectonic Correspondences and How He Supports Them     81
Evaluation of Talbert's Patterns Using the Tests for Intentionality     89
General Correspondences between Luke and Acts and their Analysis     90
Focus on Specific General Correspondences between Luke and Acts and Their Analysis     103
Development of General Parallel 5     104
Development of General Parallel 12     108
Development of General Parallel 26     111
Correspondence between Luke 9 and Acts 1     115
Correspondences between Luke 24 and Acts 1     119
Correspondences between Luke 1:57-80 and Luke 2:1-52     121
Correspondences between Luke 3:1-20 and Luke 3:21-4:15     123
Correspondences between Luke 4:16-7:17 and Luke 7:18-8:56     126
Correspondences between Luke 9:1-48 and Luke 22:7-23:16     135
Chiastic Correspondence between Luke 10:21-13:30 and Luke 14:1-18:30     147
Evaluation of Talbert's Understanding of the Significance behind the Correspondences     157
Analysis of Ancient Literature Relevant to the Structure of Luke     163
Examples of Literature Preceding and Contemporary with Luke and Bearing Similar Structure     163
Old Testament Precedent Structures     164
Elijah-Elisha Cycles      164
1 Samuel 9-31     166
2 Samuel 11-20     167
2 Chronicles 14-35     168
Judges     170
Job     171
Daniel     172
Similar Structure in New Testament Writings     173
John 2:1-12:50     173
Matthew     177
Acts     179
Revelation     182
1 John     183
Precedent Structures from Greco-Roman Literature     184
Herodotus' Histories     185
Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War     186
Plutarch's Lives     187
Plutarch's Alcibiades     188
Livy's History     188
Vergil's Aeneid     188
Basis for Structural Correspondence: An Analysis of the Above Precedent and Contemporary Cases     192
Thomas L. Brodie's Greco-Roman Imitatio as a Possible Lukan Compositional Mechanism     194
Excursus: The Deuteronomy Hypothesis     200
A New Proposal for the Structure and Composition of Luke 4:14-24:53     204
The Cyclical Narrative Structure of Luke 4:14-24:53     204
Presentation of the Narrative Structure     204
Parallel Narrative Features that Establish the Strata      207
Discussion of the Narrative Strata across the Four Cycles     210
Domain and Size of the Units that Comprise the Narrative Strata     214
Reasonableness of the Narrative Bases for the Correspondences     227
Application of the Tests for Intentionality to the Cyclical Narrative Structure of Luke 4:14-24:53     228
Lukan Introductions to Episodes: An Argument for Markan Priority in Lukan Composition     269
The Need for Another Argument     270
A New and Irreversible Argument     273
Introductions to Episodes with a Change of Scene     273
Introductions with Minimal Change in Scene     278
Analysis of Introductions in Markan Sections of Luke     279
Markan Redaction of Lukan Episodic Order, Assuming Lukan Priority     281
Literary and Theological Purposes and Implications of the Proposed Narrative Structure of Luke     285
Literary Purposes and Implications of the Structure     286
Reader Oriented Purposes     286
Lukan Interpretation of Passages     293
Contribution to Redaction Criticism     294
The Composition of the Gospel of Luke and the Proto-Luke Hypothesis     295
Theological Purposes and Implications of the Structure     302
Christology Communicated through the Structure (Strata 1-3 and 11)     302
Death and Resurrection as the Goal of Jesus' Incarnate Ministry (Strata 1 and 11)     303
Prophetic Status of Jesus (Stratum 2)     303
Authority (Stratum 3)     305
Authority Displayed through Conflict     305
Authority Displayed through Healing     307
Authority Displayed over Disciples     308
Salvation and the Crowds/People (Stratum 4)     309
Discipleship (Strata 6-9)     309
Threat against disciples from Misguided Religious Leaders (Stratum 6)     310
Challenge to Grow in Faith (Stratum 7)     311
Return of Christ as Motivation for Greater Faith and Ministry (Strata 7 and 8)     312
Role of the Disciples AS Apprentices and Perpetuators OF Christ's Ministry (Stratum 9)     316
Ecclesiology     317
Conclusion     318
Conclusion     320
Evaluation of Talbert's Correspondences within Acts     327
Correspondences between Acts 1-12 and 13-28     327
Additional Correspondences between Acts 1-12 and 13-28     331
Correspondences between Acts 1:12-4:23 and 4:24-5:42     338
The Preface to Luke as a Possible Indication of the Gospel's Structural Nature     341
The Relationship between Intertextuality and the Theory Espoused in This Book     345
The Problem of the Author in the Theory of Intertextuality     346
The Intertextualists' Tendency to Deny the Author's Importance     345
The Debate among Literary Theorists: Arguments in Favor of the Author's Importance     348
The Form of Intertextuality Exhibited in this Book     352
Bibliography     356
Index of Scripture and Ancient Texts     369
Author Index     385

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Luke's outline, and the structure of his central section in particular, continues to puzzle readers more so than with any other Gospel. McComiskey's proposals make reasonable sense of the outline, and significant theological applications result."

- Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary

"In the application of new methods of literary analysis to the New Testament the Gospel of Luke has proved to be a fruitful testing ground. Dr. McComiskey's thesis makes a significant fresh addition to this area of research with its penetrating study of the structure of the Gospel. This is one of the most original contributions to Lucan study of recent years."

- I. Howard Marshall, University of Aberdeen

"Attention to structure is an important avenue into meaning, and McComiskey's study makes a serious contribution to the study of the structure of the Gospel of Luke. McComiskey establishes an extensive set of criteria for testing structural proposals, and applies them rigorously to his own proposal: his investment in rigorous testing is unparalleled in previous studies on the structure of Luke. Even those who are not finally persuaded by the structure in its entirety are likely to conclude that he is, nonetheless, "onto something" here. And McComiskey clearly lays out the kinds of contribution to meaning that his structure might offer."

- John Nolland, Academic Dean and Director of Post-Graduate Studies, Trinity College, Bristol, UK

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